Discovery Eastern Venezuela 12 days

This is the trip you are looking for! One of the most exciting combinations of spectacular landscapes, cultures and activities. We take you to the highest waterfall of the world , interact with the Warao people and wildlife observation,  get charmed by the coffee plantations and its culture, and enjoy one of the most pristines beaches of Venezuela.

Day 1.- Arrival to Venezuela. Airport assistance and overnight by the airport at Hotel Santiago***.

Day 2.- Transfer to the airport. Flight to Puerto Ordaz by 7am. The Angel falls are located impenetrably deep inside Canaima national park. Your tour begins with an impressive flight in a light aircraft to the camp, close to the Laguna de Canaima, from which you can see the beautiful Hacha Falls.  After a tasty lunch in the indigenous village you will be taken across the lagoon and past the Hacha falls in a small boat. From this side of the lagoon you will walk along the pink sand banks and up, through the jungle, to the majestic Sapo Falls. From here you can swim in the lake before walking up through the jungle and behind the falls and enjoy the scenery through the powerful curtain of water.  Dinner at the camp before falling asleep in hammocks to the sound of crickets.

Day 3.- After breakfast at the camp you will walk through the jungle before taking a motorised canoe along the Carrao and the Churún Rivers, to the spectacular Angel falls. As you travel along the rivers you have time to take in the lush scenery and the dramatic Tepuys and enjoy a light lunch. Only when you arrive at Devil's Canyon can you see the Angel Falls cascading over 1km from the top of the Auyán-Tepuy to the Rio Churún. From here you will walk up through the jungle for an hour to the Mirador Laime vantage point and then down to the rock pools near the base of the falls where you can swim in the fresh water. That night you will eat a delicious, freshly prepared meal at a camp close to the falls before falling asleep in your hammock to the sound of the falls.

Day 4.- After breakfast and coffee at the camp you will travel back down the river to the first camp where you will eat lunch before taking a final flight over the jungle to Puerto Ordaz. Car ride to one of the most important cattle ranch of the Eastern plains known as Rancho San Andrés for dinner and overnight. Enjoy the swimming pool and have few drinks at the bar surrounded by a nice atmosphere.

Day 5.- Breakfast at the ranch. Boat ride onto Orinoco river up to Yavinoco camp which is located near Yavinoco Warao Community by one of the many tributaries of the Orinoco river. From your boat you can observe a wide variety of flora and fauna - water hyacinth, pink dolphins, giant river otters, anacondas, and sideneck turtles. Along the riverbanks you will see Indian villages with their unique raised dwellings (palafitos), built over the river's edge. Upon arrival at the camp you will be shown to your private cabins, and afforded some time to relax before lunch and your first excursion. After lunch, it’s time to take a leisurely walk through the rainforest that surrounds the Orinoco. Here you will experience the wild, natural habitat of the virgin jungle. Once under the canopy, your Warao guide will point out edible plants which you will get a chance to taste, or if your stomach is strong enough you can try the juicy grubs that can be found living in the dead trees and vegetation!
When you return to the camp, you will be able to relax before dinner. If you wish, you may take a swim in the river by the camp, or just sit and observe one of the fabulous delta sunsets. After a delicious dinner you will have the chance of enjoying the silence of the Orinoco river from the
harbor of the camp. Overnight in hammock with mosquito nets.

Day 6.- Breakfast at the camp. The morning will see you navigate the Orinoco in search of the various species that live there- among the highlights are river dolphins and spectacled caiman in the water, capuchin and red howler monkeys up in the dense foliage, hummingbirds and kingfishers in the skies above. After returning to the camp for lunch, it’s back into the boats for a trip to some of the Warao villages and palafitos that line the riverbanks in this part of the Orinoco. Your guide will explain about Warao culture, and the flow of the community's daily life – a truly fascinating experience. Here we will have an opportunity to meet some of their craftsmen, and inspect some of their workmanship, first-hand. Back to camp in the evening for a hearty meal and maybe even a few beers or Cuba libres!. Overnight in hammock with mosquito nets.

Day 7.- This morning you will be taken out to a quiet spot in the river to do some Piranha fishing, and then, conditions permitting, to the Orinoco ‘beach’ in the middle of the river where you can swim and relax. After lunch we travel by river one last time to San José de Buja. At our arrival we will drive up to the Turimiquire Massif surrounded by views of rain forest and alternating with flower and vegetable plots until we reach a charming village called Caripe. Dinner on own and overnight at Hotel Samán.

Day 9.- Breakfast. Short walk around the ranch where our guide will spot some birds and may be an spectacled alligator in its swamps. We will also observe the water buffalos coexisting with a tropical paradise in its meadowlands and will also learn more about the ranch activities.  Drive to Playa Medina, considered one of the most beautiful beaches of Venezuela. Fish BBQ lunch by the beach and leisure time on your own. After that we will visit Hacienda Bukare, a cocoa farm with colonial heritage. We will learn about the whole cocoa process and taste the farm products. Drive to the fishermen village of  Río Caribe for overnight at Posada Villa Antillana

Day 11.- Breakfast. Boat ride to Chimana Island with dolphins observation activities. Guided snorkeling in some the richest coral reefs of this extense National Park. BBQ and drinks by the beach. Boat ride to Playa Blanca and leisure time on your own. Return with the sunset to Mochima Village. Dinner and overnight at Posada El Embajador.

Day 12.- Breakfast. Drive to Barcelona for your flight to Caracas at midday. End of service.

The program may change according to nature conditions and availability

Minimum 6 people / Maximum 10 people
Medium standard

Prices per person
Double Room US$ 1449
Single Room US$ 1658
Child (up to 11 years old)  US$ 1051

Land transportation:
Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2006
AC, Panoramic windows, DVD & Audio.

Price Includes
· All meals enlisted in the program.
· Multi lingual tour guides
· Daily guided excursions
· All internal flights
.All land, boat and air transfers

Price Excludes
· Trip insurance – strongly recommended  for inward and outward bound travel.
· Souvenirs.
· National Park fee, US$7 per person for Canaima National Park
. Meals not enlisted.
. Tips to guides.

Suggested Items to Bring
· Hiking boots and socks
· River shoes or sandals with good tread and closed toes
· Light cotton trousers, shorts, tee shirts,  long-sleeved shirt
· Rain protection (poncho)
· 2 bathing suits, one towel
· Sun protection / sun block
· Head protection - baseball cap, hat or scarf
· Insect repellent (suggestion - Johnson's
Baby Oil, alcohol and / or "deet")
· Small flash light and spare batteries
· Small backpack for daily essentials
· Camera with plenty of film and a spare battery is advised!
· Plastic bag for your wet clothes

Departures for 2007
June 15-26, 2007
August 03-14, 2007
October 12-23, 2007